Daily Devotional | A Desperate Father

I coached a youth baseball team for the purpose of spending time with my son. During a practice session one of the kids threw a ball when my son wasn’t looking, and it cracked his eye socket. In anguish, I didn’t wait for the emergency medical service to arrive. I drove my son to the hospital as fast as I could. I was desperate to help him.

In John 4:46, we are introduced to a royal official whose son was not doing well. In fact, verse 47 tells us that his son was near death. As a dad myself, I am not surprised that this royal official traveled 20 to 25 miles to speak with Jesus (v. 46). When he found Jesus, he begged Him to come and heal his son (v. 47). His desire was for Jesus to make the trip back to Capernaum. Evidently, the official felt that there were no other options for his son’s healing. This father was beside himself with worry.

Jesus responded in an unexpected way, stating, “Unless you people see signs and wonders you will never believe” (v. 48). By saying “you people,” Jesus was probably speaking to all the observers of this interaction between Him and the official. But He was also speaking to the official.

Jesus told the official: “Go [without seeing]...Your son will live” (v. 50). Acting with trust and obedience, “[t]he man took Jesus at his word and departed” (v. 50). We can only imagine his thoughts on that long ride home. But we learn that his son lived and had been healed at the exact moment that Jesus spoke. As a result, his entire household believed (v. 53).

>> Every one of us will encounter desperate times in our lives. The question is: To what or to whom will you turn to during those times? If you are facing such a time right now, turn to Jesus. Know that the Lord Jesus Christ can be trusted with everything that is most precious to you.

Pray with Us

We will all face desperate situations in life. Teach us to run first to You, Jesus, and to encourage others to do the same! You do not promise us trouble-free lives, but You do promise to be with us to the end!

BY Eric W. Moore

Eric Moore is Professor and Chair of the Applied Theology Field at Moody Theological Seminary. Eric is graduate of Michigan State University, Dallas Theological Seminary, the University of Michigan, and Western Seminary. He is the author of Pastoring the Small Church and a contributor to the One Volume Seminary (Moody Publishers). He has pastored Tree of Life Bible Fellowship church for over two decades. Eric and his wife, Marilyn, live in southeast Michigan and have three children.